This blog was written by Josh Hancey, Safety Director at Helpside
On Friday January 29, OSHA released new guidelines on COVID-19 safety. These guidelines cover several different areas of potential risk and advise business leaders and employees on how to reduce those risks. Here are some of the new guidelines covered by OSHA:
Implementing a COVID-19 Prevention Program
A COVID-19 prevention program can allow your company to reduce and manage the risk of infection in a more efficient way. OSHA shares some tips for making your COVID-19 prevention program run smoothly. This advice includes appointing a workplace coordinator, identifying hazards, establishing helpful communication, providing guidance to workers, minimizing impact of quarantine, and increasing cleaning and preventative actions.
Physical Distancing
Maintaining physical distancing in an on-site workplace can be difficult. OSHA recommends decreasing the number of employees in the building at a time as well as increasing the amount of available distance between employees. If physical distancing is impossible in any part of your workplace, OSHA suggests putting in solid barriers to protect employees.
Face Coverings
Wearing face coverings can greatly decrease the risk of infection in any workplace. All workers should be provided with face masks, or be allowed to wear their own as long as it meets CDC guidelines. Face coverings should be worn to cover both the mouth and the nose. Additionally, face coverings should be used with physical distancing not instead of physical distancing. Wearing a mask does not mean workers don’t need to physically distance and vice versa.
Sanitize
Keeping a sanitized workplace will help decrease the likelihood of infection. OSHA encourages employers to provide necessary cleaning supplies, such as soap, tissues, hand sanitizer, and no-touch appliances. In addition, employers should routinely clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces to prevent the spread of germs. A thorough disinfecting should take place in any areas an infected or exposed employee frequented.
Keeping your employees safe from COVID-19 may involve changes to your current policies and practices. If you have any questions about the new guidelines or how to implement them, contact Helpside at jhancey@helpside.com.